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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Sept 17, 2014 17:46:45 GMT
Hello everyone, I've been given some alpaca skirting waste (this means it's too short for spinning but it's probably good for wet felting) but, being a needle felter myself, I don't really have any use for it... It's raw fibre, so I could only ship it to anyone in the UK. Would anyone here be interested in having some to try? Another detail that might matter: it's brown alpaca Let me know! Thanks.
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Post by zed on Sept 18, 2014 8:38:57 GMT
Do you have any photos? Why is it not suitable for needle felting?
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Sept 18, 2014 16:54:13 GMT
I don't have any images right now, but I can get them if you'd like. It's unsuitable for me, because a) it's so fine it takes forever to felt on its own, and b) the staple length is a bit short to allow drum carding, and I'm a busy woman
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Post by zed on Sept 19, 2014 9:12:01 GMT
My fibre addiction is telling me to say yes, but it sounds like it might not be that great if it can't even be carded. If you do get time to take photos though, I'll be able to decide better
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Sept 19, 2014 14:35:40 GMT
I've learned of this trick in which you freeze the fibres to avoid them getting static electricity - maybe this would help? I didn't try it (forgot) but you could...
I'll try to photograph the fibres! Washed or raw, or both?
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Post by zed on Sept 20, 2014 9:26:20 GMT
Alpaca does seem more staticy than wool, I wonder if that does work.
Could you photograph it raw? I'd get a better idea of it, I think. How short is too short to card?
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Sept 21, 2014 10:28:51 GMT
I can, yes! I'll get on it today. In fact, why don't I photograph both?
I'd say it's around 5-6cms...
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Post by zed on Sept 22, 2014 11:40:55 GMT
Oh, that doesn't sound very short really. Don't rush if you're busy
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Post by Shepherdess on Sept 22, 2014 12:52:27 GMT
I make a solution of water, lavender oil and orange oil to spray on the fibers when it's static. Just a little oil. My big machine, plus the dry winter air can be a real pain. The other thing you can try is taking the fiber into the bathroom while you have a nice steamy shower. it will help with the static.
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Sept 23, 2014 15:32:34 GMT
It's not too, too short, Zed, just not very good for needle felting and my carder I'll try to get some photos your way soon, I purchased a light box and I'd like an excuse to use it!
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Sept 27, 2014 10:33:49 GMT
Zed, a quick update - I was waiting for my light box to take some photos, it would be a great way to test it out. Well, it arrived, and I didn't take the photos I wanted because the whole setup is very disappointing. It's going back.
Having said this, I'll just have to use my usual setup to show you, and I'll have that in the next few days!
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Post by zed on Sept 28, 2014 9:37:32 GMT
Oh, sorry about that A few people here have made their own light boxes. I don't know if we have that modular PVC piping they have in the US, but I've seen a few plans for making ones from those, it's basically a cube whichever size you want, put together with tubes and elbows/connectors, like you put up the frame for a cloth wendy house.
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Oct 1, 2014 11:20:48 GMT
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Oct 1, 2014 11:22:03 GMT
I have a couple of books that explain how to make a light box, the problem is, they're not foldable, and my flat is too tiny to bear another bulky object...
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Post by zed on Oct 3, 2014 11:58:59 GMT
It's a nice colour, but it looks quite wiry. I don't think I'd use it, sorry for making you go to the trouble of photographing it, but thanks for the offer Have you asked any needlefelters on facebook? It looks like it'd make good animal hair.
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